Department for Education figures show a shortage in the number of students
training to become teachers, with physics and languages facing the biggest
problems

Schools have been told to prepare for a looming teacher recruitment crisis after figures showed a shortage of students being trained in key academic subjects.

Head teachers’ leaders told of “major shortages” of well-qualified staff as it emerged that more than 2,000 training places had effectively been left unfilled this year.

According to the Department for Education, some 32,543 people started – or expect to start – teacher training courses this term, compared with a target of 34,890. It represented 93 per cent of the overall total.

But figures showed much larger under-recruitment in some vital disciplines, despite the promise of tax-free scholarships of up to £25,000 to attract the brightest graduates.

In design and technology, only 44 per cent of places were filled, while the recruitment rate stood at 67 per cent for physics, 79 per cent for foreign languages, 81 per cent for geography, 85 per cent for biology and 88 per cent for maths.

The government insisted that the calibre of trainees was improving, with three-quarters of candidates arriving with a good degree – at least a 2:1 – which was the highest proportion on record.

Charlie Taylor, chief executive of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said the quality of new entrants into teaching was “increasing year on year”.

But the data showed some subjects were still lagging behind the average, with only 64 per cent of maths and physics candidates gaining a good degree, even though they can claim the most attractive training bursaries.

School leaders warned that it could lead to major teacher shortages across the country.

In the past, schools have been forced to rely on supply teachers, increase class sizes or fill vacancies with staff lacking the proper qualifications when faced with a recruitment crisis.

Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The feedback from heads around the country is that recruitment is a major issue, not just in English and maths but across most subjects.

“The obvious question is whether there are enough training places available. For instance training places in chemistry and English are oversubscribed yet we are getting reports of major shortages in those areas. We simply are not seeing enough good teachers applying for jobs.”

Claims of shortages follow a government decision to increasingly move the training process away from universities towards on-the-job teaching courses in schools.

More than 9,232 trainees started training directly in schools in 2014/15, up by 38 per cent in a year. So-called “School Direct” courses now account for more than a third of all postgraduate training.

A recent report said that training standards were highest in school-based courses.

But critics have warned that taking training out of universities makes it harder to co-ordinate national teaching supply.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, which represents lecturers, said: “These new figures are deeply concerning for schools and parents. We have seen another fall in the number of people training to be secondary school teachers and there are shortages in most subject areas.”

“The government needs to learn lessons from universities where recruitment figures are best.”

A DfE spokesman insisted the government always allocated "more places than are needed to ensure a high quality supply of teachers across England's classrooms".

We never expect to fill to 100 per cent of allocated places and we are confident we will continue to meet future demand," he said.

“We want the best and brightest teachers in our schools. That’s why we are offering increased bursaries worth £25,000 tax free to top graduates training in priority subjects, including physics, maths and languages and prestigious scholarships, to trainees in maths, physics, chemistry, and computing.”